Chase Knolls is a 1949 mid-century modern garden apartment complex on Riverside Drive in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, and is noteworthy for its abundance of mature landscaping and park-like setting. From 2011 to 2021, a major improvement project was completed that included rehabilitation of 21 historic apartment buildings and construction of 6 new apartment buildings. It was the recipient of a 2022 Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award.
Chattel worked with design architect DFH Architects, landscape architect MLA Studio, and owners KOR Group and Waterton to implement a multi-phase rehabilitation plan for the historic apartment buildings and surrounding landscape, as well as introduce new infill construction in conformance with the Secretary’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Significantly, rehabilitation work involved careful integration of new plumbing and electrical systems at each of the historic apartment buildings with minimal disruption and change. Interior features of apartments including cabinetry and stainless steel countertops in kitchens, and ceramic tile with inlaid stainless steel trim in bathrooms were all preserved. Carports along the central driveway spine were demolished for construction of new apartment buildings set atop subterranean, multi-level parking garages. A community swimming pool and gym were added as amenities. Architects Heth Wharton and Ralph Vaughn, who had worked with master architect Paul R. Williams, and landscape architect Margaret Schoch designed the garden apartment complex for Joseph Chase. It replaced a family dairy farm that previously occupied the property. Typical of large apartment developments at the time, it was financed by Section 608 of the National Housing Act and was required to follow certain design guidelines promulgated by the Federal Housing Authority. The property is a designated City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and has a Mills Act Historical Property Contract.